Tablet arm for nesting chair

Abstract

According to various embodiments of the present invention, a tablet arm for a nesting chair including a first rigid support member affixed to a nesting chair, a second rigid support member swivelably coupled to the first rigid support member, a tablet rotatably and slidably coupled to the second rigid support member by a collar, a first stop coupled with the second rigid support member and configured to abut one end of the collar in the tablet's forward operable position, and a second stop coupled with the second rigid support member and configured to abut another end of the collar in the tablet's rearward operable position. According to some embodiments, a plurality of nesting chairs having swiveling rotatable tablets movable from an operable position to a nested position, the tablets positioned over seatbacks of the chairs in the nested position and configured to slide horizontally in the operable position.

1 . A tablet arm for a nesting chair, the tablet arm comprising:
 a first rigid support member affixed to a nesting chair;   a second rigid support member swivelably coupled to the first rigid support member;   a tablet rotatably and slidably coupled to the second rigid support member by a collar;   a first stop coupled with the second rigid support member and configured to abut a first end of the collar in a forward operable position of the tablet; and   a second stop coupled with the second rigid support member and configured to abut a second end of the collar in a rearward operable position of the tablet.   
   
   
       2 . The tablet arm of  claim 1 , wherein the second rigid support member swivels along a substantially horizontal plane. 
   
   
       3 . The tablet arm of  claim 1 , wherein the first rigid support member is tubular. 
   
   
       4 . The tablet arm of  claim 1 , wherein the second rigid support member is tubular. 
   
   
       5 . The tablet arm of  claim 1 , wherein the first rigid support member is affixed to the nesting chair via welding. 
   
   
       6 . The tablet arm of  claim 1 , wherein the first stop and the second stop are formed by a U-shaped bracket attached to the second rigid support member. 
   
   
       7 . The tablet arm of  claim 6 , wherein the U-shaped bracket is attached to the second rigid support member via welding. 
   
   
       8 . The tablet arm of  claim 6 , wherein the tablet is configured to rest against the U-shaped bracket in the forward operable position and in the rearward operable position. 
   
   
       9 . The tablet arm of  claim 6 , wherein the U-shaped bracket comprises a crossbar piece substantially parallel to the second rigid support member, wherein a first top of the crossbar piece and a second top of the collar form a substantially horizontal plane, and wherein the tablet is configured to rest on the first top and the second top in the forward operable position and in the rearward operable position. 
   
   
       10 . The tablet arm of  claim 1 , wherein the collar is a first collar, the tablet arm further comprising a second collar configured to rotatably and slidably couple the tablet to the second rigid support member, the second collar coupled with the second rigid support member and separated from the first collar by either the first stop or the second stop. 
   
   
       11 . The tablet arm of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third stop coupled with the second rigid support member and configured to halt rotation of the tablet about the second rigid support member at a predetermined rotation angle.   
   
   
       12 . The tablet arm of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a swivel joint coupling the first support member with the second support member, the swivel joint including a means for halting swiveling of the second support member away from the chair at a predetermined angle.   
   
   
       13 . The tablet arm of  claim 1 , wherein the nesting chair comprises a seatback, and wherein the tablet arm is configured to locate the tablet over the seatback in a nested position. 
   
   
       14 . The tablet arm of  claim 13 , wherein an operable position comprises the forward operable position and the rearward operable position, and wherein the nesting chair and the tablet arm occupy a substantially similar amount of horizontal side space in the nested position as the nesting chair and the tablet arm occupy in the operable position. 
   
   
       15 . A nesting chair system comprising:
 a plurality of nesting chairs having swiveling rotatable tablets, the swiveling rotatable tablets movable from an operable position to a nested position, the swiveling rotatable tablets positioned over seatbacks of the plurality of nesting chairs in the nested position, the swiveling rotatable tablets configured to slide horizontally in the operable position.   
   
   
       16 . The nesting chair system of  claim 15 , wherein the swiveling rotatable tablets are further configured to slide horizontally toward and away from the seatbacks in the operable position. 
   
   
       17 . The nesting chair system of  claim 15 , wherein the swiveling rotatable tablets are further configured to slide horizontally along a substantially straight support member. 
   
   
       18 . The nesting chair system of  claim 15 , wherein the swiveling rotatable tablets are movable from the operable position to the nested position by swiveling the swiveling rotatable tablets toward the seatbacks and rotating the swiveling rotatable tablets from a substantially horizontal orientation to a non-substantially horizontal orientation. 
   
   
       19 . A tablet arm for a nesting chair comprising:
 a tablet;   a nesting chair;   a mounting arm coupled to the nesting chair;   a means for coupling the tablet to the mounting arm;   a means for swiveling the tablet substantially horizontally about the mounting arm;   a means for pivoting the tablet between a substantially horizontal position and a non-substantially horizontal position; and   a means for sliding the tablet in a direction towards or away from the mounting arm.   
   
   
       20 . The nesting chair system of  claim 19 , wherein the means for coupling, the means for pivoting, and the means for sliding are the same means. 
   
   
       21 . A nesting chair system comprising:
 a plurality of nesting chairs having swiveling rotatable tablets, the swiveling rotatable tablets movable from an operable position to a nested position, the swiveling rotatable tablets positioned over seatbacks of the plurality of nesting chairs in the nested position.